Collapsible shaft.



- 1. A. CAMERON & e. B. BIRCH.

COLLAPSIBLE SHAFT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 5| 1914.

Patented May 4, 1915.

IN 5 N T085 WITNESSES .4 TTOR/VE Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. CAMERON AND GUSTAF BIRGER BIRCH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS TO CAMERON MACHINE COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

COLLALPSIBLE SHAFT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES A. CAMERON and GUsTAF B. BIRCH, both citizens of the United States, and residents of the borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in C01- lapsible Shafts, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to collapsible and expansible shafts or mandrels, particularly those used in slitting and rewinding machines,-though the device is susceptible of use in many. other machines-and has for its object the production of a collapsible shaft of simple and strong construction which may be revolved by applying power to the core thereof.

One feature of the invention resides in a shaft having a plurality of outer segments and means for moving, said segments diametrally toward and away from each other to collapse and expand the shaft. Preferably said means act at a plurality of points throughout the length of said segments to expand or collapse the same.

Another feature or aspect of the invention resides in a shaft comprising an inner driving member, an outer driven member, and means for revolving the outer member with the inner member and for permitting longitudinal adjustment of said members with relation to each other to expand and collapse the outer member. Preferably circumferentially rotatable means are utilized to effect said longitudinal adjustment, and

complementary cam faces are provided on the inner and outer members which when moved longitudinally with. relation to each other collapse or expand the outer member.

In the present preferred embodiment of the invention the outer member is in the form of a shell consisting of segments of sheet material having at intervals spacing and reinforcing members secured thereto,

which members straddle a core and are secured together by means which pass through the said core and having longitudinal play therein to permit of the longitudinal movement of the parts, and diametral play to permit of the expansion and collapsing of the shaft.

Other features of construction will appear as the specification proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings the invention is embodied in a concrete and preferred form, showing also a modification, but

a shaft embodying the invention, and showing the shaft expanded. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the shaft 001- lapsed. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View of one end of the shaft, showing more particularly the means for adjusting the parts longitudinally. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View on the line 44 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a View like Fig. 4 on the section line 5-5 of Fig. 6 and showing a modification. Fig. 6 is a side view of Fig. 5 with one of the segments removed. Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 77 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a detail view of one of the segments and the core, the other segment being removed.

Similar characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the several views.

1 indicates an outer member shown here as consisting of a plurality of longitudinally extending segments 2 and 3 of sheet material. In Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8 but two segments are used while in Figs. 5 and 6 four segments are used. As will be seen, these segments form an outer surface adapted to receive a roll of material. At different points throughout the length of said segments are spacing and reinforcing members 4 suitably secured to the interior of said segments.

5 is the core or inner member extending through the outer member. In the present instance this core is square in cross section and the members 4 have recesses 6 to fit said core as shown.

7 and 8 indicate complementary cam faces on the members 4 and core 5 which will cause the segments to move toward and away from each other diametrally to expand or collapse the shaft when the parts are moved longitudinally with respect to each other.

9 indicates bolts which pass through the core 5 from one member 4 to the other. These bolts pass freely through one member 4 and core 5 but are threaded into the other member 4. In this way diametral play is allowed to permit expansion and collapse of the shaft. The bolts 9 pass through slots 10 in the core, which slots are longer than the diameter of said bolts to permit longitu dinal play when the inner andouter members are moved with respect to each other. By this means, it will be observed, the outer and inner members are caused to revolve 1n unison and are also permitted to be longitudinally adjusted when desired.

The means for efiecting the longitudinal adjustment take, in the present instance, the following form: The end 11 of the core 5 is threaded, and receives a collar 12 in threaded engagement therewith. This collar is seated between an abutment 13 on the outer member 1 and one of the spacing members 4. When the collar 12 is rotated, the inner and outer member will be moved longitudinally with respect to each other.

In Figs. 5 and 6, four segments are employed, andthe spacing members 4 on the four segments alternate in-their position at rightangles to each other, the slots 10 in the core 5 likewise alternating as do the bolts 9.

In addition to the above, gripping members 1A of sheet material may be pivoted on the core 5 and extend out between adj acent sections when the shaft is expanded for the purpose of gripping the paper or other tube on which the material is wound thereby preventing circumferential displacement of said tube on the shaft. These gripping members are adapted to engage the spacing members 4 so that when the'inner and outer members move longitudinally with respect to each other in one direction, the said spacing members will swing the gripping members outwardly between the segments. When the inner and outer members move longitudinally in the opposite direction, the gripping members will fall within the shaft.

What is claimed, is:

1. A collapsible shaft comprising: an inner driving member, a plurality of outer driven members, means extending through the inner member and securing said inner and outer members together permitting united circumferential revolution of the outer members with the inner member and permitting longitudinal adjustment of said members with relation to each other to expand and collapse the outer members, and circumferentially rotatable means connecting said inner and outer members for effecting said adjustment of the outer members.

2. A collapsible shaft comprising: an inner driving member, outer driven members, spacing members secured to said outer members, complementary cam faces on said spaclng members and inner member, means extending through said inner member and loosely connecting said spacing members and inner member together permitting united circumferential revolution and longitudinal adjustment of the cam faces to expand and collapse the outer members, and rotatable means for efi'ecting said longitudinal adjustment. v

3. A collapsible shaft comprising: a core, an outer shell consisting of a plurality of segments, spacing members on said outer shell engaging with said core, means passing through the core for connecting the spacing members of different segments, and means for permitting said core and shell to be moved longitudinally with respect to each other to expand and collapse the outer shell.

4. A collapsible shaft comprising: a core having slots therethrough, an outer shell consisting of a plurality of segments, spacing members on said segments straddling said core, complementary cam faces on said core and spa'cingmembers which by longitudinal movement of the parts with relation to each other cause the outer shell to eX- pand and collapse, bolts passing through the slots of the core, and loosely connecting said spacing members of opposite segments so as to have diametral play with respect thereto, said slots being of a length greater than the diameter of the means passing through the same, and means to effect the longitudinal movement of said core and shell.

5. A collapsible shaft comprising: a core, an outer shell consisting of a plurality of segments, means permitting said core and shell to be moved longitudinally with re spect to each other to collapse and expand the shaft, and gripping members mounted on the core and adapted to project beyond the circumference of the outer shell when in its expanded position to grip the material thereupon.

6. A collapsible shaft comprising: a core, an outer shell consisting of a plurality of segments, spacing and reinforcing members carried by the shell and straddling the core, means permitting said core and shell to be moved longitudinally with respect to each other to collapse and expand the shaft, and gripping members extending between the segments, pivotally mounted on the core and engaging with the spacing members so that when the core and shell are moved longitudinally to expand the shaft the gripping members are caused to protrude beyond the circumference thereof.

Signed at the borough of Brooklyn in the county of Kings andState of New York this 25th day of February A. D. 1914.

JAMES A. CAMERON. GUSTAF BIRGER BIRCH.

Witnesses:

FRANK G. Rrssnm, S. W. PEOKHAM. 

